A gathering of the BRICS group in Brazil has been overshadowed by the recent tariff policies imposed by US President Donald Trump, with leaders expected to strongly criticize these measures and emphasize the bloc’s commitment to multilateralism. The two-day summit, which begins in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, will focus on enhancing cooperation among the leaders, who predominantly represent developing countries and have expressed concerns regarding Western dominance.
The BRICS group consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, with additional full members including Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The group also has 10 strategic partner countries, such as Belarus, Cuba, and Vietnam.
However, this year’s summit marks the absence of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, both of whom will not be attending in person. President Xi will be represented by Prime Minister Li Qiang, while Putin’s absence comes due to an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against him for his involvement in the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Brazil, being a signatory to the Rome Statute, would be obligated to enforce the arrest warrant.
During the summit, the leaders are expected to denounce the Trump administration’s “indiscriminate” trade tariffs, label them as unlawful, and express concern about their potential harm to the global economy. Other topics on the agenda include global health policies, artificial intelligence, and climate change.
The BRICS countries collectively account for almost half of the world’s population, 36 percent of the global land area, and one-quarter of global economic output. They view themselves as a platform for cooperation among countries of the Global South and as a counterbalance to the Group of Seven (G7), which comprises major Western economic powers.
Despite their shared objectives, tensions and divisions exist within the group. Some member states have called for a more resolute stance on Israel’s conflict with Gaza and its recent strikes on Iran, though the matter is sensitive and the source of these demands requested anonymity.
Al Jazeera’s journalist, Lucia Newman, reported from Rio that the BRICS group aims to promote a multipolar world with inclusive governance that emphasizes the voices of the Global South, particularly in the trading system. While the group lacks organization and radical impact, the question remains whether an expanded BRICS, comprising members with diverse political systems and priorities, can form a sufficiently unified bloc to have a significant impact.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/6/brazil-hosts-brics-summit-russias-putin-chinas-xi-skip-rio-trip?traffic_source=rss
